Alex Marquez, Rocky-style: the goal is Bagnaia’s seat

Alex Marquez concluded the MotoGP 25 season by confirming himself as the runner-up in the MotoGP class and playing a key role in the development of the Ducati GP26. In the absence of his brother Marc, he began testing the first updates of the next factory Desmosedici in Valencia. Meanwhile, he’s enjoying a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Cervera...

On Saturday, the Marquez brothers celebrated Marc’s world title and Alex’s second place in their hometown, Cervera. After wrapping up a historic season, the Gresini rider who finished second, accompanied by his brother, basked in the adulation of fans who braved the cold to honor the two superstars. For Alex, it’s certainly an unforgettable MotoGP season, but the goal is for it to be just a springboard to an even brighter future. From the very first Grands Prix it was clear the two brothers would be fighting for the world crown, and then Marc made the difference.

But on the day of the parade in Cervera, this time Alex is not just a guest—he’s also a leading figure. "Since the last time we were here in 2019, there have been five or six years of problems. Things just weren’t going the way I wanted. So being able to come back in the same year, both at the top of our game and able to enjoy it, is something unique," admitted the Gresini rider.

This MotoGP season helped Alex Marquez take a significant step forward and earn a factory Ducati for next year’s championship. "When we were both fighting for first and second, every race was a masterclass for me. At the beginning I didn’t understand a lot of things; I’ll take with me that constant learning even more than the second place. I think I’ve grown a lot as a rider, thanks to him as well. Racing against someone like Marc Márquez is what I carry with me from this year."

The MotoGP runner-up also spoke about the Valencia test and his first impressions of the factory Red. "It was mainly about testing a lot of different parts. We had less time than expected, so we had to set priorities. Some things went better and others worse, as is normal. The important thing was to give good feedback, but not only that. We had to push every part to the limit so the engineers could analyze it thoroughly. I tried to make my feedback as precise as possible so they have all of December and January to work on it and arrive in Malaysia with a solid base for the GP26."

Finally, Alex Marquez delivered a powerful message to the crowd in Cervera. A bit Rocky-style, urging belief and fight. "If they tell you it’s impossible, at least try." In 2026 the Gresini rider is ready to strike again to claim a spot in the official Ducati garage—once more alongside his brother and at the expense of Pecco Bagnaia. The MotoGP rider market will open very quickly, and it will take cool heads and speed to stay on your feet in the ring.